Electrolytic cell



R. M. SHAWL ELECTROLYTIC CELL. APPLICATION FILED JULY 29,1918.

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ST. Louis, MISSGURI.

EDEGTRQLYTIC CELL.

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1 application filed m 29,

v To all whom it mayconcem:

it known that'l, Bonner M. SHAW, a' I citizen-pf the United-States, residin at the: city o.= 'If 5t. Louis, in the State of issouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrolytic Gells, of whichthe following isle full, clear, and exact specification.

"My invention relates to 'improvements in" means for electrolytically separating fluids into their component gases, and the same has for its'object moreparticularly to provide a simple, efiicient 'and reliable electrolytic cell by means of which a fluid may be de composedinto its'constituent gases, and the, gases separately conducted from the cell to suitable containers. v v Further, said invention has for its object to provide an electrolytic fcell in which the positive electrode 'may h e-readily removed without disturbing the electrical insulation thereof, or the'supporting means therefor.

Further, said invention has for its object to provide an electrolytic cell which is so disturbing constructed that the principal parts thereof may be readily removed and placed without the electrical or mechanical balance of the cell.

'Other'objects sin in art be obvious and in part lie/pointed out hereinafter.

To the'attainment of the aforesaid objects and ends my invention consists in'the'novel.

- tank or receptacle of any suitable size and shape, and made of conducting material, suchas cast 6r sheet metal. The receptacle 10 is provided, adjacent its upper end, with a trough 11, in which are positioneda pluralit of blocks 12 formed of insulating materia and provided with recesses '13, and 14 in their upper surfaces.

For purposes of illustration the invention is shown as embodied in an electrolytic cell for obtaining hydrogen and oxygen by the rt 15 rests within ,th'ejgrd nsulating. blocks 12, whic the liberated gases sepals.

Specification of Letters latent. Pa'mmj d J l 20 ggqg 1918. Serial- No. 247,096.

electrolytic decomposition of acid or slightly alkaline} water.

15 in icates a die hra su ort refcrably made ofshcct i hetai h outer downwardly extending flanges am! .17, respectively; A diaphragm, l8finthc ions of a bag,- pre'ferablvniade of asbestos fabric, has its open upper secured to the flange '16 in any suitable. vial examplegby a metal strap or band 19 ooactmgiwithn groove20 formed'in thdouter surface ofthe flange 16 adjacent its lower nd. The flange .17 ofthe fldiaphragn; supovef s lii of the g v I re positioned within the trough 11, on th parts jare so proportioned and arrang 3, hat. the-dim phragm support 15 will he heldoiitzof was 5' with the receptacle 10,1" as clearly shown in Fig. 1. The diaphragm il sewestokeep t w th face of the electrolyte. 1

The receptaolelO is provided with a cover 21 having a downwardly extending flange 22 which rests within thegrooves 1450f the insulating blocks '12, and the height of which is such that the'cqwer 21 is maintained out of contact with the diaphragm support 15. The cover 21 is provided with auaperture, preferably at t e center thereof, within aving nner-' and,

inner, as, for

which is disposed a bushing23, formed of insulating material, through which extends a supporting rod 24 havingsecured to its lower end a positive electrode. 25. The upper end of the rod'24 is, threaded tojreceive nuts 26, 26, serving to support therod24 and the positive electroda25 in proper-position within the receptacle 10 and alsgserving as a clamp for one end of; an "electrical conductor 27, the other end of which is connected to one terminal of a voltaic cell or other suitable source of electric current,-;not

shown. The conductor 28', leadin fromthe other terminal of the source of e ectric' ourrent, is connected to a binding post 2,$ secured to the wall of the trough 11 ":The positive electrode 25 is made of cast or sheet metal, preferably corresponding in'=; shapc with the shaped the receptacle l0, and is of such a size that it will pass easilythrough thediaphragm support 15. ""jg; s

' .30 denotes a gas outlet, in the former a.

' tube of any convenient size and-length, cartied by -and extending through the cover 21 theldepending flange 16 of the diaphragrn lie and communicating withthe space iwithin support 15, and 31 denotes a similar outlet, carried by and extending through the wall of thereceptacle 10 and communicating with the space between the receptacle 10 and the diaphragm support 15.

In order effectually to prevent the liberated gases from escaping from the cell, other than through the gas outlets 30, 31, the trough 11 is filled with a suitable liquid 32, such as oil.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows \Vhen the proper electric current is supplied to the apparatus, it will flow from the source of electric current through conductor 27, to the rod 2 1 and positive electrode, 25,

through the electrolyte, to the receptacle 10,

constituting the negative electrode of the cell, and back to the source of electric energy through the conductor 28. The passage of the current through the electrolyte will decompose the same into its constituent gases, which will be maintained in separated relation to one another by means of the diaphragm 18. The gases liberated at the positive electrode 25 will pass from the cell through thetubular outlet 30, and the gases liberated at the negative electrode or receptacle 10 will pass through the tubular outlet 31. The outlets 30and 31 may be connected to any suitable containers adapted to receive the liberated gases.

It will be noted that the cover 21 and diaphragm support 15 are held against movement relatively to one another and to the receptacle 10 by reason of the fact that the de pending flanges 22/and 17 rest within the grooves 14 and 13, respectively, of the insulating blocks 12.

When it is desired to remove the positive electrode 25 it is merely necessary to lift the cover 21' from the receptacle 10, and it will be seen that the removal of the positive electrode 25 will be effected without disturbing the diaphragmsupport 15 or the diaphragm 18 carried thereby. After the positive electrode 25 has been thus removed, the diaphragm support 15 and the diaphragm 18,

may be readily lifted from the receptacle 10.

It will thus be seen that the several parts of the cell may be readily separated from one another-when it is desired to have access to the interior of the cell, or to inspect the several parts for any, purpose, as for eX- ample, when it isnecessary" to clean or re- Having thus described my said invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is -1. An apparatus of the character de scribed comprising a receptacle constituting an electrode, a diaphragm-carrying member removably supported upon said receptacle, a diaphragm carried by said member, an electrode removably supported upon said receptacle independently of said member, said electrode being insulated from said receptacle and extending within said dia-' 2. An apparatus of the character described comprising a receptacle constituting an electrode, a member removably supported upon said receptacle, a diaphragm carried by said member, a'second member removably supported upon said receptacle, an electrode carried by said second member and insulated from said receptacle and extending within said diaphragm, and means for separately conducting the gases from said receptacle, substantially as specified.

3. An apparatus of the character described comprising a receptacle constituting an electrode, a diaphragm-carrying member removably' supported upon said receptacle and insulated therefrom, a diaphragm carried by said member, a cover removably supported upon said receptacle and insulated therefrom, an'electrode carried by said cover and extending within said diaphragm, and means for separately conducting the gases from said receptacle, substantially as specified;

l. An apparatus of the character described comprising a receptacle constituting an electrode, adiaphragm-carry'ing member removably supportedupon said receptacle and insulated therefrom, a diaphragm carried by said member, a cover 'removably supported upon said receptacle and insu lated therefrom, a rod supported by said cover and extending within said receptacle,

end thereof, and means for separately conducting the gases from said receptacle, substantially as specified.

5. An apparatus of the character described comprising a receptacle constituting an electrode, insulating means positioned upon said receptacle, a diaphragm-carrying member supported upon said. insulating means, a diaphragm carried by said memher, a cover supported upon said insulating means, an electrode carried by said cover and extending within said diaphragm, and

' an electrode carried by said rod at the lower means for separately conductingthe gases from said receptacle, substantially as speci-[ 6. An apparatus of the character described comprising a receptacle constituting means, an electrode carried by said cover and extending within said diaphragm, said insulating means being provided with means to hold said diaphragimcarrying" member.

and said cover against movement relatively to one another and to said receptacle, and I means for separately conducting the gases from said receptacle, substantially as speci- 7. An apparatus of the character detioned within said trough, a diaphragm carrying member supported upon said insulating means, a diaphragm carried by said member, a cover supported upon said insulating means, an electrode carried by said cover and extending within said diaphragm, and means for separately conducting the gases from said receptacle, substantially as specified.

8. An apparatus of the character described comprising a receptacle constituting an electrode and provided with a trough adjacent its upper end, a plurality of insulating blocks positioned within said trough, a diaphragm-carrying member having a flange extending within said trough and v resting upon said blocks, a diaphragm carried by said member, a wver having a flange extending withir said trough and resting upon said blocks, an electrode carried ,by sald cover and extending within said diaphragm, and means for separately conducting the gases from said receptacle, substantiallyns specified.

9; An apparatus of the character described comprising a receptacle constituting an electrode ai'id provided with a trough adjacent its upper end, a plurality of insulating blocks positioned within said trough and provided with inner and outer grooves spaced from one another, a diaphragm-car- 'rying member having a flange extending within said trough and resting upon said blocks in engagement with the inner grooves thereof, a diaphragm carried by said member, a cover having a flange extending within said trough and resting upon said blocks in engagement with the outer grooves thereof, an electrode carried by said cover and extending within said diaphragm, and means for separately conducting the gases from said receptacle, substantially asspecified.

Signed at the city-of St. Louis, in the State of lllissouri, this 28th day of May, one thousand nine hundred and eighteen.

HUBER-'1. M. SHAW. I

Witnesses PAULA FinsonAN, AUNL'L. Hones. 

